INTERMITTENTLY ACTUATED PLUMB PENDULUM FLUID BEARING MEANS

Abstract: Device comprising a base and a body which is supported by means of a bearing means in pendulum fashion relative to the base. The device furthermore comprises means for bringing the body into the vertical position out of an initial position by bringing the body out of the initial position, in which the body is being held in a stationary state relative to the base, into a freely swinging state at least once for a predetermined period of time which is related to the swing time of the body, and for subsequently bringing the body back into the stationary state. The bearing means comprise two surfaces defined by a substantially common radius of curvature and bounded by the base and the body respectively. The means for bringing the body into the vertical position comprise feed means for feeding a medium between the two surfaces for a predetermined period of time which is related to the swing time of the body to bring the body out of the stationary state, in which the two surfaces are contacting each other, into the freely swinging state, in which the medium forms a layer between the two surfaces. Preferably the medium is compressed air.

Description: I NTERMITTENTLY ACTUATED PLUMB PENDULUM FLU I D BEAR I NG MEANS The present invention relates to a device comprising a base and a body which is supported by means of a bearing means in pendulum fashion relative to the base, and means for bringing the body into the vertical position out of an initial position by bringing the body out of the initial position, in which the body is being held in a stationary state relative to the base, into a freely swinging state at least once for a predetermined period of time which is related to the swing time of the body, and for subsequently bringing the body back into the stationary state. Such a device is for example incorporated in a high precision measuring instrument as described in DE 39 32 044. The housing of this instrument constitutes the base of the device and the body of the device is a circular plastic disc provided with an eccentric mass. The disc is fitted on a central shaft, which shaft is journalled within an electrical measuring device for indicating the angle position of the disc relative to the housing. An electromechanical brake device is provided to bring the disc from any given initial position into the vertical position. The brake device has a brake shoe acting upon the outer rim of the disc. A pulse generator supplies a signal to the brake device which causes the brake shoe to periodically hold the disc in the stationary state relative to the housing or to release the disc and bring it into the freely swinging state. The frequency of the signal supplied by the pulse generator is related to the swing time of the disc. It is obvious that the disc would reach its vertical position even without the use of the described brake device since its pendulum movement would gradually decrease due to damping effects. The major advantage brought along by the brake device is a significant reduction of the time necessary to obtain the vertical position of the disc. This can be explained as follows. When a body which is supported on a bearing means in pendulum fashion relative to a base is released from a position in which the centre of gravity of the body lies outside the vertical line passing through the imaginary or real pendulum suspension point which is provided by the bearing means, said body will carry out a pendulum movement with a specific constant swing time. In each case, the centre of gravity of the body always passes the vertical line at the end of a period of time amounting to one fourth of the swing time from the moment of release. Therefore, if the period of time during which the body is brought into a freely swinging state relative to the base is fixed at one fourth of the swing time of the body only one freely swinging state of the body is in fact sufficient to bring the body into its vertical position. However, in practice this will require not only a very accurate knowledge of the swing time of the body, but also perfect operation of the device. It is therefore preferable to bring the body several times in succession into the freely swinging state and then, as it were, approximate the vertical position in steps. This approximation of the vertical position is always obtained so long as the period of time during which the element is in the freely swinging state does not correspond to half the swing time of the body or multiples thereof. The device known from DE 39 32 044 has several drawbacks. First of all the bearing means of the known device which support the disc has a threshold friction which hinders the body from reaching its vertical position with a high accuracy. As is mentioned in DE 39 32 044 the impulses exerted by the brake device on the body assist overcoming this threshold friction, but the friction will still impair the accuracy that can be obtained with the device. A further drawback of the known device is that the pulsating contact between the brake shoe and the disc will result in wear of their contact surfaces, which will change the accuracy of the device in the course of its operational life. Also important is that in case the device is used with the housing have a more or less constant initial position during its operational life, for example a near- horizontal position, the brake shoe will only interact with a small part of the outer rim and excessive wear of this part of the rim will occur. Another drawback of the device is that it is not suitable for many applications, such as for a leveling instrument, as the pendulum disc can only move in a single plane. The object of the invention is to eliminate the abovementioned disadvantages. This object is achieved by providing a device of the type mentioned in the preamble, which is characterized in that the bearing means comprise two surfaces defined by a substantially common radius of curvature and bounded by the base and the body respectively, and in that the means for bringing the body into the vertical position comprise feed means for feeding a medium between the two surfaces for a predetermined period of time which is related to the swing time of the body to bring the body out of the stationary state, in which the two surfaces are contacting each other, into the freely swinging state, in which the medium forms a layer between the two surfaces. The two surfaces can be circular segment-shaped, so that the body can move in a single plane, e.g. for an angle measuring instrument, or spherical surfaces, so that the body can perform a spatial movement, e.g. for a leveling instrument. The medium supplied to the bearing means can be a gas, such as compressed air, or even a fluid. The presence of a thin layer of this medium between the two surfaces, which can be brought about in a simple manner as the following description will clearly show, provides a virtually frictionless bearing arrangement between the body and the base. Also the contact area between the body and the base can be chosen as large as necessary to support a load to be placed on the body. Furthermore a large contact area will avoid any occurence of wear of the interacting surfaces. Therefore the inventive measure provides a simple, sturdy and reliable device and the body thereof can obtain a highly accurate vertical position. The body of the inventive device can for instance provide a horizontal platform for a land surveying instrument. In a prefered embodiment the feed means for the medium consist of a first valve which can open and close a supply line for the medium to the bearing means, a second valve which can open and close a vent line connecting the supply line at a point between the first valve and the bearing means to the environment and control means for opening the two valves alternately. Preferably the valves are electrically operated valves. The vent line allows a fast elimination of the layer of medium between the two surfaces. Preferably the medium supplied to the bearing means is compressed air. It is also advantageous for the device to have means for locking the body relative to the base. This ensures that the vertical position of the body obtained with the desired accuracy can be fixed, so that it cannot be disturbed and the body can act as a stable platform. The means for locking the body to the base can consist of, for example, mechanical clamping means, magnetic means, or the application of a partial vacuum to the earlier described bearing means. To obtain a rapid approximation of the vertical position of the body the feed means are designed for bringing the body into the freely swinging state more than once for a period of time which is shorter than half the swing time of the body, and for subsequently bringing the body back into the stationary state. When the means are designed for bringing the body into the freely swinging state at least once for a period of time which is no more than one fourth of the swing time of the body, and for subsequently bringing the body back into the stationary state, a very rapid approximation of the vertical position is obtained, since the centre of gravity of the body approaches the vertical line from one side. It is advantageous for the design of the device if all periods of time in which the body is brought in the freely swinging state are of equal length. The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the appended drawing of examples of embodiments of the device according to the invention, in which: Fig. 1 is an illustration of land surveying equipment comprising an example of an embodiment of the device according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a vertical section of a part of the device in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the air supply means of the device in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view of the control signals for the valves of the air supply means in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 of another example of an embodiment of the device according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a device 10 according to the invention placed on a tripod 1 with three legs 2. The tripod 1 is provided with conventional adjusting means for making a provisional level setting of the top part thereof, for example with an accuracy of 1° - 2°. This level position can be checked by the user by means of the indicator 3 , which operates with an air bubble. The device 10 comprises a detachable base 11 which can be fixed on the tripod 1, and a body 12 which can be supported through bearing means in pendulum fashion relative to the base 11. After the body 12 has been brought into the vertical position in the manner described below, and after the body 12 has been locked relative to the base 11, a land surveying instrument, for example, can be placed on top of the body 12. The construction and the mode of operation of the device 10 are explained below with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. In Fig. 2 it can be seen that the base 11 is provided with an annular element 13 which has an essentially spherical surface 14. The body 12 is provided with an annular element 15 with an essentially spherical surface 16. The radii of curvature of the two surfaces 14 and 16 are the same, so that the body 12 is supported relative to the base 11 in the manner of a ball joint which is rotatable in all directions. When compressed air is fed in to a connection aperture 17 of the base 11 by means of air supply means 30 belonging to the device, which means will be described below with reference to Fig. 3, air passes through the central cavity in the base 11 and goes between the two surfaces 14 and 16. This causes the surface 16 to move up a very small distance relative to the surface 14. Another gas, or even a liquid, could be used instead of air. Channels 18, distributed around the surface 14, and in communication with the environment, open out near the outside edge of the surface 14. Some of the air fed in between the surfaces 14 and 16 escapes through the channels 18 to the environment. The air layer obtained through the infeed of air between the two surfaces 14 and 16 causes the body 12 to move without friction relative to the base 11, as if the body 12 were suspended in an imaginary hinge point 19. The position of the hinge point 19 corresponds to the centre point of the radii of curvature of the surfaces 14 and 16. If the centre of gravity of the body 12 is not situated exactly below the hinge point 19, viewed in the vertical direction, when air is fed in the body 12 will carry out a pendulum movement relative to the hinge point 19. In the example of an embodiment shown, the body 12 is designed in such a way that the swing frequency of the element is 2 Hz, and the swing time is therefore 0.500 second. The infeed of compressed air to the connection aperture 17 of the base 11 is achieved by means of air supply means 30, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. The air supply means 30 comprise a small electrically driven air pump 31, which is provided with an air filter at its suction side. The air pump 31 is capable of placing ambient air under slight excess pressure, for example 0.3 bar excess pressure. In an embodiment not shown, a pump or hand bellows which can be manually operated by the user of the device can be provided for the purpose of pressurizing the medium, or the medium can be stored in a pressurized container. The pump 31 is connected to the connection aperture 17 by means of a supply line 32. The supply line 32 accommodates an electrically operated valve 33, which can open and close the supply line 32. At a point between the valve 33 and the connection aperture 17, a vent line 34 is connected to the supply line 32. The vent line 34 accommodates an electrically operated valve 35, which can open and close the line 34. Both valves 33 and 35 are closed when not in operation. An electrical control device 36 is provided for the operation of the valves 33 and 35. Said device 36 can supply a first and a second control signal to the valves 33, 35 respectively. Fig. 4 gives an example of the first and the second control signal. For use of the device 10, after the pump 31 is put into operation, a starting signal is given by the user to the control device 36. The control device 36 then supplies the second control signal to the valve 35, with the result that it opens the vent line 34, and any air still present disappears between the surfaces 14 and 16 of the base 11 and the body 12. After a short waiting time has elapsed following closure of the valve 35, the control device 36 feeds the first control signal to the valve 33, with the result that compressed air passes between the surfaces 14 and 16 and the body 12 is brought into a freely swinging state relative to the base 11. The time period tl during which compressed air is fed in is 0.100 sec. in the example shown. This corresponds to one fifth of the swing time of the body 12. If the valve 35 is opened, the air pressure quickly decreases, and the surfaces 14 and 16 come to rest on each other. The valve 35 remains open during a time period t2 of, for example, 0.150 sec. This means that the body 12 is in the stationary state again relative to the base 11. This cycle can be repeated a number of times, for example four times. If the line through the imaginary hinge point 19 and the centre of gravity of the body 12 in the initial position has an angular deviation W of 1° relative to the vertical, the final angular position W4 is reached by way of the successive angular positions Wl, W2, W3. So, there is an approximation of the vertical position in four steps, as shown in the table below. step 1 : Wl = ( 0. 125 - 0 . 100) / 0. 125 * 1. 000° = 0 . 2000° step 2 : Wl = ( 0. 125 - 0. 100 ) / 0. 125 * 0. 200° = 0. 0400° step 3 : Wl = ( 0. 125 - 0 . 100) / 0. 125 * 0 . 040° = 0 . 0080° step 4 : Wl = ( 0 . 125 - 0 . 100 ) / 0 . 125 * 0 . 008° = 0. 0016° The above table shows that with the device according to the invention the vertical position of the body 12 is reached with great accuracy already after about one second. For even greater accuracy, it is, of course, possible to carry out more repetitions. The period of time during which the body 12 is in the freely swinging state could also be selected so that it differs from step to step. In any case, the device according to the invention provides the user with a clear insight into the accuracy which can be achieved. It will be clear that the operating time tl of the valve 33 and the period of time during which the body 12 is in the freely swinging state need not correspond exactly. On the one hand, the relation between these two values could be set at the factory while, on the other hand, it is clear that through use of the approximation method the vertical position can be reached quickly and with very great accuracy, despite a slight deviation between these two values. After reaching the vertical position with the accuracy desired by the user, the body 12 is locked firmly on the base 11 with the aid of a clamp 20 (Fig. 2) . The clamp 20 is operated by rotating an eccentric cam mechanism 21. A spring 22 ensures that the rod of the clamp 20 is always pressed against the eccentric cam mechanism 21. A seal 23 is also placed along the rod of the clamp, thus preventing air fed in through the connection aperture 17 from escaping by this route. The device shown in Fig. 5 comprises a base 50 and an body 51 supported on a bearing means in pendulum fashion relative to the base. The bearing means consists of a part 53 immovably fixed in a cavity 52 of the body 51 and having a spherical recess. The part 53 rests on a ball 54, which is connected by means of a support 55 to the base 50. Compressed air can be fed in between the surfaces of the part 53 and the ball 54 through an air connection aperture 56. The connection aperture 57 is in communication with a vacuum source, with the interposition of a valve (not shown) . Contrary to what has been described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, in this case after the supply of air to the connection aperture 56 is shut off, a vacuum is created by way of the connection aperture 57, so that the part 53 is clamped firmly on the ball 54. When the vertical position of the body 51 has been reached after a number of repetitions of the cycle, the vacuum is maintained, with the result that the body 51 remains firmly secured relative to the base 50. It is clear that the above description reflects only one potential application of the device according to the invention. Another application could be an angle measuring device, in which the angular position of the base relative to the body in the vertical position is measured. It will also be clear that the base need not be stationary. If the base undergoes a slow movement relative to the swing time of the body, the body can be brought into the vertical position with great accuracy using the device according to the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device comprising a base (11;50) and a body (12;51) which is supported by means of a bearing means in pendulum fashion relative to the base, and means for bringing the body into the vertical position out of an initial position by bringing the body out of the initial position, in which the body is being held in a stationary state relative to the base, into a freely swinging state at least once for a predetermined period of time which is related to the swing time of the body, and for subsequently bringing the body back into the stationary state, the device being characterized in that the bearing means comprise two surfaces (16,14;53,54) defined by a substantially common radius of curvature and bounded by the base (11,-50) and the body (12;51) respectively, and in that the means for bringing the body into the vertical position comprise feed means (30) for feeding a medium between the two surfaces for a predetermined period of time which is related to the swing time of the body to bring the body out of the stationary state, in which the two surfaces are contacting each other, into the freely swinging state, in which the medium forms a layer between the two surfaces. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed means (30) for the medium consist of a first valve (33) which can open and close a supply line (32) for the medium to the bearing means, a second valve (35) which can open and close a vent line (34) connecting the supply line at a point between the first valve and the bearing means to the environment and control means (36) for opening the two valves (33,35) alternately. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the medium is compressed air. 4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10; 50, 51) comprises means (20; 57) for locking the body (12; 51) relative to the base (11; 50) . 5. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed means (30) are designed for bringing the body (12:51) into the freely swinging state more than once for a period of time which is shorter than half the swing time of the body, and for subsequently bringing the body back into the stationary state. 6. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed means (30) are designed for bringing the body (12; 51) into the freely swinging state at least once for a period of time which is no more than one fourth of the swing time of the body, and for subsequently bringing the body back into the stationary state.

Inventors: DULLAERT LEONARDUS THEODORUS M, DULLAERT, LEONARDUS, THEODORUS, MARIA
Applicants: DULLAERT LEONARDUS THEODORUS M, L TH M DULLAERT AGENTUREN EN C, DULLAERT, LEONARDUS, THEODORUS, MARIA, L.TH.M. DULLAERT AGENTUREN- EN COMMISSIEHANDEL B.V
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G01C9
IPC codes: G01C9, G01C15